UT basketball: Longhorns to face defending national champs

AUSTIN — The last time Texas went to Connecticut for a men’s basketball game, the Longhorns were the No. 1 team in the country. When they return in November, it will be the Huskies who are the defending national champions.

UT’s trip to UConn on Nov. 30 highlights its 2014-’15 nonconference schedule, which was announced Monday. The Longhorns will be making their first appearance in Storrs, Conn., since they lost their No. 1 ranking in 2010 with a 88-74 loss.

This season, the Longhorns also will play two games at Madison Square Garden in New York in the 2K Sports Classic, which also features California, Iowa and Syracuse.

UT’s highest-profile home game comes Dec. 23 against Stanford. Although new athletic director Steve Patterson said improving the atmosphere at the Erwin Center is one of his top priorities, there aren’t many marquee draws on the rest of the slate. UT’s other nonconference home opponents are Saint Francis, UT-Arlington, Texas State, Lipscomb, Long Beach State and Rice.